Stewart Systems Ekopoxy - Ekoetch

Yesterday I sprayed the internal wing skins of my RV-14 using Stewart Ekopoxy. I was very happy with the paint. It sprayed easy, mixed easy, didn’t stink. I switched to this paint from Veriprime which I love, but I no longer want to accept spraying chromates.

I said that it doesn’t stink - but the wax and degreaser still does, and that is the purpose of this post. I talked to Stewart Systems about not using the Ekoetch process because I am painting at my hangar, without a water supply, and in winter it is hard to rinse off the parts outside (Wisconsin). So I scuffed the surface well with Scotchbrite (mechanical etching instead of the Ekoetch chemical etching), then wiped it down with wax and degreaser until the rag was clean before spraying. A few questions for the collective brain:

1) Has anyone used Ekoetch without rinsing, what did you do, did it work?
2) Does anyone know of a good water based wax and degreaser that doesn’t stink? (The Ekoclean also has some acid in it and asks for a water rinse)
3) Does anyone have a clever hangar sink that can be used with water hauled in from home?

Thanks all - Jason

I have gone to mechanical etching and I use solvents to clean. I use acetone to get mostly clean then use alcohol as a final while since that is what they recommend. Seems to be working so far.

I scuffed the surfaces with ScotchBrite brown pads, then used Stewart Systems degreaser (soap) rinse, then EcoEtch and rinse prior to EcoPrime.
Very happy user, as I primed in a small "booth" in a one car garage then a bigger booth in my hanger. Except for using a painter's mask, no need for ventilation since it's water based (and super easy to clean up afterwards).


Always rinse EcoEtch (don't inhale its fumes...) within 5 minutes of applying the acid (it's phosphoric acid). Otherwise it leave "stains" on the surface. I don't know if leaving the acid to dry is ok or not...
Apply the primer within 6 hours of etching.

I ferried the parts to my home and used the shower... ;-)


Good luck!!

The larger parts, I rinsed with a hose outside on the lawn, using EcoClean first and EcoEtch after. I used a maroon Scotchbrite pad with the EcoEtch and clean cloths to help remove the rinse water. Then I followed that with distilled water and more clean cloths to remove that. After an air dry, I could spray with EcoPoxy.

Later I had some parts that would fit in my bathtub so I did this there. In all cases, I did the spraying outside.

While this was at home, could you do this phase there and then move the parts to the hangar?

Dave

David Paule said:

While this was at home, could you do this phase there and then move the parts to the hangar?

Dave

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I scarred the parts, large or small, at the garage or hangar.
Then moved them home by batches depending on what I could spray later.
There, I washed, rinsed, etched, rinsed and let air dry.
Using nitril gloves, I then moved the parts back to the garage or hangar.
Before I applied the primer, I used compressed air to remove any water.

Garden sprayer costs about $10 and holds a couple gallons of water, should be plenty for rinsing parts off after etching.

For my distilled water rinse, following a tap water rinse, I used very little. A gallon container should last at least a couple work sessions.

Dave

David Paule said:

While this was at home, could you do this phase there and then move the parts to the hangar?

Dave

Click to expand...

Dave, I moved the parts from home to the hangar for priming and then back again. It might be an option, but I was really trying to limit handling of the cleaned parts and keep time between cleaning and priming ASAP. Might give that a shot next time. - Jason

Good Call

Keye said:

Garden sprayer costs about $10 and holds a couple gallons of water, should be plenty for rinsing parts off after etching.

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Good idea Keye, I suppose I was picturing the need for a ton of rinse water, but it sounds like most are not using a ton of rinse water.

Perhaps this would help assess the need for water.

Every once in a while, I mop the hangar floor. It's about 1,900 square feet and it's divided in four segments. I buy four of those 2.5 gallon water jugs and use less than all four, every time. There's always nearly a full one left over. And I use soapy water for the wash and go over it with rinse water.

Sure makes a difference.

So more than likely, supplying water for the cleaning, won't be too hard.

Dave